Soccer By Ives

Evening Ticker: Sounders to face Timbers, USSF D-2 schedule released and more

 
 

If you were already counting down the days to the first Seattle Sounders-Portland Timbers MLS match in 2011, you won't have to wait that long. The fierce rivalry, one of the oldest and most important in American soccer, will resume next month when the Sounders and Timbers face off in the Seattle's inaugural "Community Shield" match at Qwest Field on March 11.

The exhibition match is being played to raise money for local charities Boys and Girls Club of Washington State, Save the Children, Seattle SCORES and Washington Youth Soccer. Following the match the teams will sign autographs from the field.

Tickets for the match go on sale on Wednesday, with prices ranging from $10 for adults to $5 for youths age 6-17. All children younger than six can attend for free.

The Seattle Community Shield will take place two weeks before the Sounders open the MLS campaign against the expansion Philadelphia Union. The Timbers also open their campaign against a new team, taking on AC St. Louis on April 22 in the USSF Division 2 opener for both teams.

Here are some other stories to help close out your Monday:

MLS Preseason Update

By TRAVIS CLARK

The MLS regular season is just weeks away, and clubs across the country are in deep preparation for the 2010 season.

Arizona and Florida are the two mains destinations for February training camps as clubs look to escape the cold weather closer to home. D.C. United, Toronto FC and Columbus will spend time training in Bradenton, FL over the next few weeks, while Kansas City, Chicago and Real Salt Lake are setting up shop in Arizona.

The Philadelphia Union are currently training in Browns Summit, NC, and will play a scrimmage against the University of North Carolina this coming Saturday. Peter Nowak's squad will be without new acquisition Michael Orozco from Wednesday as he departs for national team camp at the Home Depot Center.

Mid-Day Ticker: Cesc plans on Barca return, Gulati re-elected and more

By AVI CREDITOR

Cesc Fabregas has said that he always had a place in his heart for FC Barcelona. This summer he will reportedly embrace that sentiment to the fullest.

According to Spanish reports, the Arsenal captain and Spain international will snub a lucrative offer from the Gunners to join the Spanish giant during the summer transfer window.

Sport newspaper claims that Arsenal's £30 million offer has been trumped by a £44 million one from Pep Guardiola's side, meaning that Arsenal is likely to lose its most dynamic player, and Barcelona is about to add another one.

The 22-year-old Fabregas, a Barcelona native, played in the Barcelona youth system from 1997 to 2003 before joining Arsenal.

Despite missing four games this Premier League season, Fabregas has 11 goals and 13 assists.

Here are a few other stories from around the soccer world:

Monday Morning Centerback: Altidore finding his fire

Jozy Altidore is 20 years old. He's a starting striker in the English Premier League and he's begun playing the type of soccer expected of him when he drew a $10 million transfer as a teenager.

Oh, and in case you forgot, he is American.

This seems silly to point out here, but it seems some folks lose sight of the fact that Altidore is a 20-year-old American striker playing in the world's biggest league. He hadn't scored a league goal until Saturday's beautiful finish in Hull's 2-1 win vs. Manchester City, but even before that goal he was already showing signs of being a young player figuring things out.

A 20-year-old American striker playing (and now starting) in the world's biggest league who is playing well as a starter. Think about that for a second. Doesn't that sound like a strange combination? It should, because there has never been one before, which is why American fans need to appreciate watching his evolution as a player.

A move to Fox Soccer

If you follow the SBI Twitter Feed then you know I have some good news to share this morning. I am joining Fox Soccer as full-time writer/columnist.

The move ends a more than five-year stint with ESPN Soccernet, a tenure that included five MLS Cups, four MLS Drafts, a World Cup and countless U.S. national team matches. I enjoyed that time but am very excited to be joining Fox Soccer, which most of you know has been making major moves to boost its already unmatched coverage of soccer. I'm looking forward to doing my part to help that coverage be as strong as it can be.

What does this mean for SBI? There will be no drastic changes. I will continue to operate the site in the same way, though SBI will have an established relationship with Fox Soccer now. As I have said for some time, the plan is to strengthen the editorial staff in order to provide more thorough coverage of American Soccer, as well as the international game.

Thanks to all of you for supporting my work through the years, from the Herald News to ESPN Soccernet to SBI. 2010 is shaping up to be the best year yet so be sure to keep following along, both here and at FoxSoccer.com.

South American Ticker: Robinho dazzles in Santos return, Ortega's struggle and more

 

By NESTOR F. SEBASTIAN

Robinho showed his appreciation to his old club Sunday. The diminutive striker made his return to Santos a memorable one by notching a late match-winner with a mind-boggling back-heel goal to help his side to a 2-1 away in against Sao Paulo in the Paulista tournament.

The Brazilian is currently looking for some productive first-team soccer but is also desperate to bring back the magic and characteristics that made him the talk of the footy world before suffering a dip in form with Manchester City, who approved his loan to Santos until the summer.

In Sunday's contest, Sao Paulo equalized with about 20 minutes left with a Roger header after 18-year-old sensation Neymar had put Santos up earlier with a nifty penalty kick. Robinho entered the match in the 58th minute and combined nicely with Neymar before grabbing the winner with about five minutes left.

Here is Robinho's winner (at the 1:05 mark):

Here are some other stories from the weekend in South America:

Americans Abroad: Weekend Rewind

By FRANCO PANIZO

It appears age is nothing but a number for Brad Friedel.

The 38-year-old Friedel posted his eighth shutout in Aston Villa's last ten league games by making five saves in the Villans' scoreless draw with Tottenham. Averaging less than a goal against per game, Friedel now has 11 cleansheets on the season.

Carlos Bocanegra did not help Stade Rennes record a shutout, but he was a part of the club's impressive and surprising 4-2 victory over league leaders Bordeaux. Having fallen out of favor in December, Bocanegra has now started five out of Rennes' last six matches at left back, which should put U.S. fans worried about his playing time at ease.

U.S. fans are also probably smiling about Jozy Altidore's latest showing. Altidore continued his fine run of form in Hull City's game with Manchester City, contributing with his first Premiership goal while also drawing yellow cards on both of the Citizens' centerbacks in Hull's 2-1 upset victory.

Altidore wasn't the only one to find the back of the net this weekend. In just his third appearance for Puebla, Herculez Gomez scored his first goal for the club, nodding home a free kick in the 1-1 draw vs. Atlante.

Here is how the Americans Abroad fared this weekend:

Soccer Sunday: Your Running Commentary

 

A day after Manchester United posted another victory, both Chelsea and Arsenal will head into their London Derby needing a victory to keep pace with the red-hot Red Devils.

Arsenal will be looking to rebound from its loss to Manchester United last week, which won't come easy at Stamford Bridge against a Chelsea team that will be eager to recover after a mid-week stumble against Hull.

Had your fill of EPL soccer after Saturday's loaded schedule? There's plenty of other quality fixtures, including Fiorentina-Roma as well as Sao Paolo-Santos match that should be entertaining.

If you will be watching today's action, please feel free to share your thoughts, opinions and some play-by-play in the comments section below.

Enjoy the action (Today's soccer TV schedule is after the jump):

Altidore scores first EPL goal in Hull victory

From the early moments of Jozy Altidore's 18th English Premier League match, there were signs his first league goal for Hull City might come.

The U.S. national team striker looked dangerous from the opening moments, and drew yellow cards for both of Manchester City's centerbacks before delivering his first EPL goal to help Hull City post an impressive 2-1 victory against Manchester City.

Altidore ran onto a Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink pass in the 31st minute and slotted home a shot past Shay Given from 19 yards out to open the scoring vs. City.

Altidore's second goal for Hull (his first came in an August Carling Cup match), also helped Hull City climb out of the relegation zone and into 14th place.

If you missed the goal, here it is:

What do you think of Altidore's goal? Impressed with his recent form? Expect goals to start coming in bunches for him now?

Share your thoughts below.

Soccer Saturday: Your Running Commentary

Brad Friedel and Aston Villa is in the race for the valuable fourth-place spot in the English Premier League and will look to move a step closer to it when the Villans take on Tottenham in the best of the rest of Saturday's matchday schedule.

Friedel and Villa will look to try and stop a red-hot Tottenham attack as both teams look to keep pace with Liverpool, which posted three points with its win vs. Everton.

Jozy Altidore will look to keep his recent good form going as Hull faces Manchester City. Carlos Bocanegra and Renne take on first-place Bordeaux in another top match.

If you will be watching today's matches, please feel free to share your thoughts, opinions and some play-by-play in the comments section below.

Enjoy the action (Today's schedule is after the jump):